Network's Earth Day Theme Is Global Warming

Apr 18, 2008

On April 20, Earth Day Network is spearheading one of the largest Earth Day gatherings in U.S. history -- major day-long events on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and seven other cities, 1,000 college campuses, and hundreds of community events that are expected to attract hundreds of thousands of participants and rally support for immediate and equitable national action on global warming.

The flagship event on the National Mall is free and will feature elected officials and candidates, community speakers, celebrities, and major musical acts as well as educational displays and voter registration. Simultaneous free events will be held in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, Dallas, and Miami. The events are being produced by Green Apple Festival and sponsored by Chase.

All the activities are being coordinated by Earth Day Network, the nonprofit organization that mobilizes 17,000 organizations worldwide and 5,000 organizations in the United States. The group was founded by the organizers of the original Earth Day in 1970.

"This Earth Day, it's time to change the forecast for global warming," said Kathleen Rogers, the group's president. "Climate change must rise to the top of the national agenda this election year. On April 20th, Americans will be hearing our global warming message, and we will be mobilizing support for solutions."

The 2008 Earth Day events will include a voter registration component, especially in low-income communities. Studies have shown that minority and low-income populations are the most impacted by global warming. The solution is a new energy future based on renewable sources that will mean less greenhouse gases, spur jobs, and stimulate the economy.

For the second year in a row, the group is sponsoring Earth Day on the Hill on April 21. This activity will bring community leaders to lobby Congress on the issues of global warming and environmental justice and equity.

"We will be creating surround-sound on the issue of global warming," said Rogers. "Our leaders will hear from us on the National Mall, in the halls of Congress, and in the news media. We will be making a lot of noise this Earth Day."

Other Earth Day Network activities include:
*encouraging people to take public transportation or carpool to Earth Day events, as well as to sign Earth Day Network's Sky Petition at www.earthday.net.
*working with religious and faith-based communities to support sermons in thousands of churches, synagogues, and mosques.
*sponsoring "Chill Out: Campus Solutions to Global Warming," a contest that recognizes campuses and campus leaders for their efforts to solve climate change issues. The contest will be broadcast on April 16 on Earth Day TV.